Name
Frederick James Gray
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
12/07/1942
31
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Gunner
913649
Royal Artillery
135 (The Hertfordshire Yeomanry) Field Regt.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
KRANJI WAR CEMETERY
9. D. 19.
Singapore
Headstone Inscription
GOD'S BEST GIFT, REMEMBRANCE
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St. Mark’s Church Memorial, Hitchin, St. Saviour's Church Memorial, Hitchin, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He was employed by the London and Northeastern Railway before he joined the Beds and Herts Regiment in 1940. He had been a Territorial from April 1939 and later transferred to the Royal Artillery and had Service Number 913649.
He served in the Territorial Army 344 Battery in the 135th (Herts Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery equipped with 8 x 4.5 howitzers. The Regiment sailed from Gourloch at the end of October 1941 for Halifax, Nova Scotia. They were transferred to the S.S. ‘Mount Vernon’ and went to Cape Town heading for the Middle East. On the way they were diverted to Singapore and arrived during an air attack on the 13th January 1942. After disembarking they were despatched to the west coast of Johore and were in action before withdrawing to Singapore Island by the 31st January 1942. They fought vigorously on the island until ordered to destroy their equipment and surrender on the 15th February 1942.
Following the surrender they were moved to Changi and in May 1942 moved to Bukit Timah, both on the Island of Singapore. He was reported missing after the fall of Singapore to the Japanese in February 1942 and he died in Singapore from causes unknown.
He is buried in Plot 9, Row D, Grave 19, Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore. His memorial stone bears the additional inscription "God's best gift remembrance".
He was the son of Edward and Emmie Gray of 38, Balmoral Rd, Hitchin in a family of four, all of whom were in the services.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Paul Johnson - local historian, Herts Pictorial dated 16th Sep 1941 & 7th Aug 1945
